Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener

ABSTRACT

A reusable fastener that secures the zippers of a dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism&#39;s closing position. The reusable fastener secures products that are dependent on the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism for actions of opening and closing from being unintentionally opened. While able to secure zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the closing position, the reusable fastener can also be easily detached. Additionally, the detachment process will not destroy the reusable fastener, enabling the reusable fastener to be reused. Furthermore, since no personally-tailored knowledge or lock-and-key is necessary to detach the reusable fastener, public and safety officials can securely reattach the reusable fastener to the zippers after inspections. The reusable fastener contains a plate that will make the reusable fastener easily identifiable. These advantages of the reusable fastener will provide users of products containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism a peace of mind.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fasteners, and more particularly, relates to a reusable fastener that secures the zippers of a dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position in which the zippers are zipped up as closely against each other as possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A dual closed-ended zippers mechanism is a common mechanism installed on the fastening edge of many types of products. For example, dual closed-ended zippers mechanisms are common on suitcases, backpacks, sleeping bags, and many other types of products that require frequent opening and closing.

The secure closure of any product installed with the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism require that both zippers of the mechanism are properly zipped up and in positions as closely against each other as possible, and remain in such positions.

Unfortunately, a zipper in this dual closed-ended zippers mechanism can be unintentionally dislodged from the mechanism's proper closing position. The possibility of accidental dislodgement can increase due to wear and tear as well as frequent opening and closing of the product through the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism. Without the zippers being able to remain zipped up as closely against each other as possible on their own, a secure closure of such product might not be maintained for long periods of time. This creates concern that the articles contained within such product might accidentally spill out and could be lost during transit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a device that is able to secure the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in such mechanism's closing position. Doing so, such a device would be able to maintain the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position. In addition, in order not to interfere with the ease of use in opening and closing a product containing such a dual closed-ended zippers mechanism, a user should be able to secure and detach such a device from the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism easily and quickly. Furthermore, due to the frequent opening and closing of a product containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism, such a device should be reusable as to allow the user to use the same device after each series of opening and closing actions. Lastly, such a device, while securing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position, should not place an extreme burden as to destroy the reusability of such device on opening of any products containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism by public security and safety officials due to necessary inspections.

Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener that overcomes the above-described challenges and satisfies the above-described needs and requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: The rectangular plate embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener in perspective view lying flat, seen from above.

FIG. 2: The circular plate embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener in perspective view lying flat, seen from above.

FIG. 3: An fragmentary perspective of the cord of an embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener after being guided through the zippers, which have pull tabs with bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism.

FIG. 4: An fragmentary perspective of an embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener in which, using the cord, a secured hitch has been tied around the plate of such fastener.

FIG. 5: The zippers, which have pull tabs with bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism after being secured in the closing position by one embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener.

FIG. 6: An fragmentary perspective of the cord of an embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener after being guided through the zippers, which have pull tabs without bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism.

FIG. 7: The zippers, which have pull tabs without bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism after being secured in the closing position by one embodiment of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description and explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best modes for practicing the invention follows.

As shown in the rectangular plate embodiment of FIG. 1, a Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising of a rectangular plate 1, a cavity 2 extending from the bottom surface 3 to the top surface 4 of the rectangular plate 1, a cord 5 whose first end 6 is coupled to one side 7 of the rectangular plate, an aglet 8 is attached to the cord 5 on the free end 9.

As shown in the circular plate embodiment of FIG. 2, a Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising of a circular plate 10, a cavity 2 extending from the bottom surface 11 to the top surface 12 of the circular plate 10, a cord 5 whose first end 6 is coupled to the peripheral side 13 of the circular plate 10, an aglet 8 is attached to the cord 5 on the free end 9.

The Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener has the following features and advantages:

(1) The Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener can be used to secure the zippers, which have pull tabs with bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position in which the zippers are zipped up as closely against each other as possible. As shown in FIG. 3, with the zippers 14, which have pull tabs 15 with bottom cavities 16, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism zipped up as closely against each other as possible, a user can thread the free end 9 of the cord 5 of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener through the cavities 16 in series. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the user would guide the free end 9 of the cord 5 through the cavity 2 of the plate 17. Then, using the free end 9 of the cord 5, the user would tie a secure hitch 18 around the section 19 of the cord 5 that has not been threaded through the cavity 2 of the plate 17. As shown in FIG. 5, the result will be the secure attachment of the zippers 14, which have pull tabs with bottom cavities, against each other and to the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener, thereby securing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position.

(2) The Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener can be used to secure the zippers, which have pull tabs without bottom cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position in which the zippers are zipped up as closely against each other as possible. As shown in FIG. 6, with the zippers 20, with pull tabs 21 with no cavities, of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism zipped up as closely against each other as possible, a user can thread the free end 9 of the cord 5 of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener through the cavities 22 on the sliders 23 of the zippers 20 in series. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the user would guide the free end 9 of the cord 5 through the cavity 2 of the plate 17. Then, using the free end 9 of the cord 5, the user would tie a secure hitch 18 around a section 19 of the cord 5 that has not been threaded through the cavity 2 of the plate 17. As shown in FIG. 7, the result will be the secure attachment of the zippers 20, which have pull tabs without bottom cavities, against each other and to the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener, thereby securing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position.

(3) The Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener can be easily detached. This process will release the zipper of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism from its secure attachment to the other zipper of the mechanism and the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener, and facilitate the opening of the product containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism. As seen in FIG. 4, the user simply has to untie the secure hitch 18 and thread out the cord 5 from the cavity 2 of the plate 17. Depending on the type of zippers, the user would either thread out the cord from the cavities 22 on the sliders 23 of the zippers 20 that have pull tabs 21 without bottom cavities in FIG. 6 or from the bottom cavities 16 on the pull tabs 15 of zippers 14 that have pull tabs 15 with bottom cavities 16 in FIG. 3. After these quick steps, the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener is detached from the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism, and the product containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism can be quickly and easily opened through the use of such mechanism.

(4) The process to detach the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener from the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism is simply the reverse of the process to secure the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener to the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism. Therefore, the securing and detaching processes do not destroy the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener and the same Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener can be reused after each set of actions in opening and closing the product containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism.

(5) Because the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener does not require any unique keys or specialized knowledge such that only one user would be able to detach or secure a particular Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener to the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism, for security purposes, law enforcement, airport security personnel, and other public and safety officials, using the methods described above, can detach the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener without destroying the reusability of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener. This will provide public and safety officials with the opportunity to secure the product containing the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism by securely reattaching, using the methods described above, the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener to the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism. This reusability will increase the chances that a product using the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism for the actions of opening and closing can still be properly secured after any necessary inspections.

(6) Because all embodiments of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener contain, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a type of plate, the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener will be easily identifiable and locatable while the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener is not being used to secure the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers. Furthermore, such plate will also be helpful in aiding the user to tie a secure hitch while securing the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener to the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in the mechanism's closing position. Additionally, the components in all embodiments of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener are all permanently connected together either directly or indirectly through other components of such fastener, and a user does not need to disconnect any component of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Mechanism Reusable Fastener from another component of such same fastener in order to use such fastener either to secure the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism in such mechanism's closing position or to detach such fastener from the zippers of the dual closed-ended zippers mechanism. This will help to ensure that the user could not lose a component, or components, of such fastener and render such fastener inoperable from such fastener's intended purposes described above.

(7) All embodiments of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Reusable Fastener will enable the coupling of cords of different sizes to the plate of the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Reusable Fastener as to ensure that the cord will be able to thread through any cavities sizes that zippers of a dual closed-ended zippers mechanism might have. Furthermore, as described above, the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Reusable Fastener is multifunctional and can be used with both zippers that have pull tabs with bottom cavities and zippers that have pull tabs without bottom cavities. Moreover, because the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Reusable Fastener uses a cord to secure the zippers of the dual closed-zippers mechanism together, this variable length securing component allows the Dual Closed-Ended Zippers Reusable Fastener to secure dual closed-ended zippers mechanisms even if there is an object protruding from the product containing such mechanism so that the zippers could not be zipped up exactly adjacent against each other.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A dual closed-ended zippers mechanism reusable fastener, comprising: A rectangular plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, first and second lateral sides, and first and second longitudinal sides; the said rectangular plate further having a cavity extending from the bottom surface to the top surface of the plate, and defining therein an opening at each of the top and bottom surfaces; a cord having a first end and a free end opposite the first end, said first end coupled to one of the said lateral or longitudinal sides of the said rectangular plate; the said cavity having a cross-section, parallel to said top surface and said bottom surface, larger than the cross-section, parallel to said cord's width, of said cord; an aglet attached to said free end of the said cord.
 2. A dual closed-ended zippers mechanism reusable fastener, comprising: A circular plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and peripheral side; the said circular plate further having a cavity extending from the bottom surface to the top surface of the plate, and defining therein an opening at each of the top and bottom surfaces; a cord having a first end and a free end opposite the first end, said first end coupled to said peripheral side of the said circular plate; the said cavity having a cross-section, parallel to said top surface and said bottom surface, larger than the cross-section, parallel to said cord's width, of said cord; an aglet attached to said free end of the said cord. 